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 Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 1:19 pm
Instead of feeling shocked or embarrassed, Mnyiri laughed. The look on the earthling's face was priceless. It was as if he were on the edge of snapping back at Akiyal, but was too dumbfounded to see someone stand up for an alk like that. His fat, puffy lips opened and closed like a fish. Her laughter was loud, but open and free.
It was enough to put her back into a good mood when she found got to her 'stage'. There wasn't anywhere for her to stand to really get above the crowd; not that she needed the added height, mind you. If the Earthlings couldn't see a seven and a half foot alk with a pink streak in her hair then they probably shouldn't be out on their own.
Mnyiri plucked at a few of the lutes string in an effort to tune it. "I'm just hoping for coin. I mean, if they're going to throw something, might as well be something useful, right? That or food; good food, not the rotten stuff."
Satisfied with the final sound, Mnyiri gave herself a little shake to loosen up before starting in on a jaunty little tune. It wasn't anything elaborate, but it was one of her favorites simply because it always made her want to dance.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 1:29 pm
Maybe it was just him, but somehow all the not-Wind races usually seemed to be pretty grossly prejudiced. Alkidike hated everyone, Shifters hated Alkidike, Fire people had some absurd hatred of Wind folk, if his dad's parents were any indication. And yeah, maybe Akiyal hated Alks too, but that was a justified prejudice, seeing as how they slaughtered his mom and whatnot. Not that he should hold it against this particular peculiar scrap of a woman. Though he also severely doubted there were many (if any) more like her.
He stood off to her side, hands jammed in his pockets while she readied her instrument for this impromptu concert. How likely was it that anyone would take especially kindly to this? Crystal eyes scanned the market square to see that anyone not outright ignoring Mnyiri seemed to be intent on giving her nothing but spite. Akiyal snorted.
"I'm fair sure the point of throwing things is that it ain't so useful. Don't know anybody that throws good things at people they don't like." Shifters probably weren't especially different in that regard.
Mnyiri's tune seemed like it'd fit right in in the taverns of Sauti. Peppy and bouncy, like she was herself, though not as many of these folk seemed to agree. With a glower at passerby, Aki grunted, "You keep playing, oi. I'll be right back." He did not have to tread far, only to the nearest shorter-than-himself male glancing warily at the strange pair occupying the market. The Shifter attempted to return promptly to his business when Aki caught his attention.
Instead, the Wind boy draped an arm across the man's shoulders and guided him ever nearer back toward Mnyiri's music. "Whatcha think, huh? My friend's song is pretty good, right? 'Specially for an Alkidike." If the man looked wary before, he looked downright uncomfortably suspicious now, but he gave a crisp nod all the same. "Yeah, yeah," Aki agreed. "She's trying real hard, and I think it might make her feel a little better if you, ah... donated a bit for her time."
Needless to say, there was a round of adamant refusal, but Akiyal had never been especially fond of being told no, and by the end of their very civil discussion, a small pile of copper coins were scattered about Mnyiri's feet.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 8:58 am
[9/10]
Mnyiri played with little care for what the earthlings around her might say. If she allowed their prejudice to have it's way then she may have given up, but Mnyiri just wasn't the type. She played for herself, mostly; and a little bit for Akiyal. Just to prove to him that yes, alkidikes could do so much more than what their reputations claimed.
She passed him a curious look, but did as he said, watching the little windling with interest. Just what was he up to? Oh - she slipped up! Her attention had been entirely on Akiyal and what he was doing that she'd forgotten a string, which only made her cheeks flush. Mnyiri picked it back up quickly enough, but her blunder was obvious.
At least no one was throwing anything at her yet, so there was that.
Her bare toes curled against a few flat stones, aiding her balance as the alk swayed this way and that to the melody of her tune. Her pupil-less gaze didn't miss the harsh looks tossed her way. Instead of feeling riled up or frightened, Mnyiri smile at them, and kept on playing. They should say nice things about the strange alkidike around the table that night; maybe some kinder words that would lead to better public relations. Or just return a smile. That would have been nice too.
She could see Akiyal again, and this time he had a friend! Although...that friend didn't look as if he was enjoying himself very much. The vast majority of their words were lost to her over the sound of the lute, but some were...well, very fairly colorful. By the end she felt little copper coins touch her toes, and as gracious as ever, Mnyiri gave a bow to her patron.
To Akiyal though she just smirked. That little scamp! "Can you dance? Or play? If you can play then I could try dancing for a while."
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 10:25 am
The super gracious Shifter man departed in a graceless scurrying motion as soon as Akiyal was done with him. What a lively, spiteful bunch of folks. At least they weren't a particularly difficult to persuade group. Aki glanced around the market square, not entirely surprised to see the patrons giving them a somewhat wider berth after that last display. Vaguely the young Wind man wondered how much luck he'd have trying the same thing a second time...
But with a roll of his shoulders, he decided it probably didn't matter. He wasn't one to not press his luck, Mnyiri seemed fairly amused with his antics, and he certainly wasn't the smallest of Earthling boys, but there were a great lot more of these Shifters than there was of him, and they were probably more properly trained, to boot.
With an exaggerated sigh, he flopped to the dirt ground a few paces away from his new Alkidike friend and fiddled with a coin just barely in arm's length.
"Me, play?" Aki grunted in barely-leashed amusement. "Nah. Ain't nobody want to hear none a the sounds I could make come out of that thing." And to be fair, 'ain't nobody' probably wanted to see him dance, either. But far be it from Akiyal to admit to anyone that he 'couldn't dance.' Because he could- He expected everyone could, just not very well or attractively. But since he doubted he'd ever see these people again (or remember them if he did), what was the harm?
Despite having just taken a seat, the Wind boy popped to his feet, dusted his shorts, and began to move in the most awkward and embarrassing shimmy-shake most of these market-goers had ever been privy to.
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2016 8:21 am
Fluffesu Fin unless you wanted to add an ending post. c:
And then he surprised her.
With a loud, excited laugh Mnyiri bounced a little closer to him, picking at her strings with addictive joy. His dance moves were horrifying, but at least he was trying! That was something, right? Much to her surprise a few Shifter women tossed some silver coins down as they passed, laughing and giggling among themselves. Mnyiri didn't honestly care if they were laughing at them or with them; so long as those smiles stayed on their faces.
Today had turned out to be an amazing day and she owed it all to this little windling.
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